We don't really believe we need to change the requirements" for inspector general. -- Margie Seemann, Citizens for Good Government

The Jefferson Parish Ethics and Compliance Commission, which is searching for the parish's first inspector general, on Wednesday eliminated from contention a top official in New Orleans Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux's office. Commission members decided not to interview Howard Schwartz, one of four finalists, saying he lacked a required inspector general certification.

Schwartz, a former No. 2 executive in New Orleans FBI office and Quatrevaux's first assistant inspector general, was the only one of the four finalists who lacked the certification.

Commission members said the certification is hardly a crucial qualification, arguing that experience is much more important. But they also decided Wednesday to abandon their efforts to have the Parish Council eliminate the certification from the required inspector general qualifications.

The Jefferson Parish ethics commission decided not to interview Howard Schwartz, one of four finalists for the parish inspector general job.

Most council members had criticized that proposal by the ethics commission, in part because the change would have benefited only Schwartz among the remaining finalists. At the ethics commission meeting Wednesday, members of the civic group Citizens for Good Government also opposed changing the qualifications for the job.

"Since we have three candidates who are certified, we don't really believe we need to change the requirements," said Margie Seemann, a member of the group.

Schwartz on Wednesday said, "That's the way the ordinance is written. I have no problem with that."

Schwartz came under scrutiny early this month after Councilmen Chris Roberts and Mark Spears raised questions about the integrity of the selection process. Roberts said he had received "calls and communications" last year that "a commitment had been made" to hire Schwartz. Spears said he had heard Schwartz had been boasting for months of having been "promised" the job.

Schwartz responded then by saying that "there's absolutely no basis" for the council members' assertions, a position echoed by ethics commission members.

The ethics commission on Wednesday also decided to postpone the interviews with the remaining three finalists until at least Jan. 23, two weeks later than the previous Jan. 9 date. Commission members said they need more time to conduct background checks and verify the candidates' other qualifications.

The commission has faced delays in its search for the inspector general. But Chairwoman Carroll Suggs said Wednesday that she doesn't see any reason why the two-week delay in candidate interviews would need to be further extended.